Henry H. Roth

“Once upon a time, out of nowhere a car appeared and headed straight for Mal Bennett. 'Long time, no see,' the engine roared, and the clanging muffler agreed. The car embraced Mal, really soul-kissed him, then said 'Farewell,' tossing him back onto his beloved, sacred lawn.”

“Before our vacation, the idea of keeping a diary and scribbling my thoughts on paper seemed silly and stuck-up. And besides it was usually something I thought only unhappy girls did.”

“She felt her most recent lovers lay like dumb victims along her thighs.”

“Bruised, she spent the night with him; bruised, too, he held her as close as he could. It was all done, promised, and decided on.”

“His was cancer of the left lung; she had lost two breasts. Her grey eyes narrowed but did not tear when she said brightly, 'I'm not forgetful, they're not misplaced boobs, you understand. They're gone.”

“She said he looked better. He insisted it wasn't true. Then both were silent. They ate carefully--lonely people no longer astonished by their loneliness.”

“When Flynn was drinking, the sun shone brighter, evening breezes were cooler, the stars were fatter and more dazzling. And there were fewer problems for all concerned.”

“Death was surely not an ephemeral interloper; its lasting effect was grating and horrible and one was constantly reminded of the permanence of an immense loss.”